Welcome to my blog

This is my diary blog which I started when I retired from the Civil Service in April 2010. I like to include some of the things that I see and do with as many photographs as possible. Thank you for visiting my blog I hope you enjoyed it and will return to see what I have been doing. Or you could always join and be one of my followers.

If you would like to use one of my photographs then please ask me first, as they are all subject to copyright.

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Thursday, 31 January 2013

Today I visited Hampton Court Palace (again) this time it was to join the members tour. When I visited the palace in December 2012 I decided to become a member. This allows me to visit the Hampton Court, Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace whenever I like during the next 12 months. This is ideal for me as I am looking to take loads of photos of Hampton Court Palace for my City and Guilds portfolio this year. The tour was interesting and I also got to use the members room at the Palace, which is a nice peaceful couple rooms to relaxing in. Not many photos at present as I need to decide which ones to use for my portfolio but I will add a link to flickr when I have added some to that site.

Monday, 21 January 2013

My exercise class was cancelled this morning so I went off to Morden Hall Park to join the walking group. There were only about 7 of us but we enjoyed the walk all around the park. The scenery was beautiful in the snow.

Sunday, 20 January 2013

Yesterday I joined a local meetup group for photographers. After we met and went through some photography skills we went off down the road to Beddington Park. It was freezing but it didn't snow but there was plenty about from the previous day. We had a good walk and took loads of photos before we went back to the organiser home for lunch and to check out how they looked on the computer.

More photos to follow once I have uploaded them on to flickr. Probably more snowy photos as it is snowing again today.

Friday, 18 January 2013

Just finished this book by Dawn French. Silvia is the subject but she is in a coma and the each chapter is about the people that visit her. I will not give away the ending but an amusing and different read.

Sunday, 13 January 2013

Went into London today to see some of the Ice Sculpting Festival at Canary Wharf. I must admit I didn't stay long or join the long queue to see the completed works. I did however see one piece being worked on.

Friday, 11 January 2013

Today I met up with a group from the Banstead U3A and we took some photographs around Carshalton. We took photos around the ponds, Honeywood House and the local graveyard. There are more photos on flickr.

It is early in January 2013 and already I am behind in my blogging. Never mind, on Wednesday I went off to Hampton Court. The idea was to take some photographs for my City and Guilds portfolio. I went with my 50mm lens and took some photos in the Palace. Not all the photos are ready for viewing but I have included one or 2.

Monday, 7 January 2013

I recently finished The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz, this was recommended to me by my friend Val. As you can see from the cover it is the new Sherlock Holmes novel and it is intriguing and the different parts of the story are entwined and linked. Great book.

Sunday, 6 January 2013

Yesterday, when I should have been doing my homework for college I decided to do other things. So the ironing got done and I made a loaf of bread. Seems a little strange thing to do but I need some bread, I couldn't bothered to go out and buy some. I had a bag of seed and grain bread flour and some yeast in the cupboard, I followed the recipe and did all the correct things, like kneading and letting it rise and the result was this lovely loaf of bread.

Friday, 4 January 2013

Today I went to Kew Gardens. I had a free ticket for gardens but it seems so did everyone else in world. I took my own lunch which was just as well as the queues in the restaurant were long. The weather was dry and not too cold so I had a good stroll around and took a few photos.

Tuesday, 1 January 2013

For my birthday last year I was given a lovely decorative cage to hang in my kitchen. Well my friend Val has made me this wonderful budgie, from stained glass, to go into the cage. I think he is brilliant.

Today is the 1st January 2013 so Happy New Year to all of those that read my blog. I noticed that I didn't do so many posts in 2012 as previous years but I will try to do better this year. I am also going to try and do the 365 project which means taking a photograph every day. I will probably add the photos on my flickr account with a link from here. I have taken my first photograph this morning from my brother, Steve's house.